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I am undertaking a podiatry degree and I am having trouble understanding the musculoskeletal (MSK) podiatry module. Could someone point me towards resources they have found helpful?

Resources could be (at 2nd year undergrad level):

Online courses
Books
Videos
Podcasts
Day courses (I am located near London)

Many thanks

 

Hi Pod2013,

I have been an MSK lead for nearly 8 years and i get asked this all the time. The best advise i can give you to start with is know your anatomy, in detail. The base level building block for my work has alway been to find out what hurts and reduce/redirect the force away from it. Understand tissues and structures, how they work and also how they fail to work.

I had to create a library for my last role and the first book on the shelf was Sarafian.

PM me, i can give you a couple of contacts in your area that migbht be able to help.

Best Wishes

Edd

 

Edd

What aspect is it that you don't understand?

http://www.rcgp.org.uk/professional-development/core-skills-in-msk-care.aspx

Dave

 

Hi Pod2013

I remember being bemused about MSK too, there is a lot to take in. We are happy to have clinical observers in our clinic and may be seeing biomechanics put into practice might help you understand more. We are in Cambridge - just a quick hop from London - we've got lots of 'toys' here .... Marsystems, RSScan and our physio is happy put his pennie's worth in - I'd be very happy to answer your questions.

On top of knowing your anatomy, a good understanding of the gait cycle is essential. I would also recommend watching people walk ALL THE TIME! I'm terrible on a beach or commuting .... I just can't help observe gait, it's like a weird addiction, it drives my husband mad! But it's the best way to start to understand what doesn't look quite right, then try to work out what is it about the person's gait that is unusual and then try and think what could be causing that - what muscles are involved, what are the bones doing, are they straight, are they bent, is anything tilted, out of level, is the head bobbing up and down, is there lateral shift of the shoulders, are the arms swinging etc.

The worst thing about MSK is the physics of planes of motion, loading and force etc - but do spend some time trying to understand this because without understanding this you won't understand where to apply forces to fix people.

The other thing is, feel as many feet, knees and hips as you can - it's only by handling hundreds of bodies that you get to know what feels right and what needs investigating.

Let me know if you'd like to spend a day with us some time.

Leah

 

That's a nice offer from Leah for you there. Worth making the time in your busy schedule for.

 

We used Tollafield and Merriman - Assessment of the lower limb. it was always a good base point to start with on MSK issues, as it was easy to take in.
I spent loads of extra time in the anatomy lab learning the structures, where they attach, and what innervates them. Another trick, is to draw those muscles on your own legs (or a friends/relatives) and familiarise yourself with your surface anatomy.
lastly, my favourite haunt during 2nd year was the shopping mall. You could sit and observe people walking past all day, and observe their gait, their symmetry, their hips/knees/feet, footwear etc. If you sit in an elevated position looking down on people, you get an even different perspective of what could be wrong with them. A physio student and I would catchup once a week for coffee and do this, which gave me a different perspective simply by discussing with a physio what they look for.

 

Craig Payne's BIOMECHANICS BOOT CAMP is in at the deep end, as can be subscribing to Podiatry Arena MSK/Sports Threads...

however being exposed to the real world clinical application of the theory would be a great way to be able to navigate your way through the traditional & less applicable course / textbook content.

Good luck and go for it.